In 2006, we have seen three finals between the Mallorcan and the Swiss. Rafa has won all of them. The use of the word ‘rivalry’ has been liberal. Nadal holds a 59 match winning streak on clay. Roger has a chance to accomplish the ‘Roger Slam’ and continue his quest for a true Grand Slam. Neither Nadal or Federer has truly been tested at Roland Garros, and no injuries are lingering. What is lingering, however, are the matches between the two in Dubai, Monte Carlo and Rome. At least in Federer’s mind. Or, we think so. Now, Nadal is the favourite. There is pressure on Nadal. Or, we think there is.

It doesn’t take a lot for non-tennis fans to be surprised by tennis results. Let me explain.

At the French Open, a tournament that annually makes a mockery of the rankings of its participants, it’s not far fetched to see a stud hard court player, like Andy Roddick, a) be ranked too high (due to not factoring in the clay surface) and b) be ousted early. To the casual fan, seeing Roddick upended in the second round by a no-name dirtballer from Spain or Argentina is an “upset” in their eyes, and at the very least is a surprise. There are countless other examples, but this scenario is the most evident.

In that same line of thought, although featuring an ironic twist, the very likely possibility that Roger Federer, the #1 seeded player at Wimbledon, will play Rafael Nadal, the #2 seed, in the finals of Wimbledon – something that would not be a “surprise” to any casual observer, is almost bewildering to most hardcore tennis pundits.

It takes a lot for someone who follows a minor International Series tournament in Austria as closely as a Grand Slam event to be surprised in the world of tennis. But when I put two and two together (pretty much when the third round concluded), it was like someone pulled off the last act of disbelief in their signature magic trick. Disbelief, but excitement. I like surprises.